A pioneering boutique specialising in investment mechanisms and international trade, Araújo Ibarra has been at the forefront of trade law in Colombia for five decades. The team’s extensive experience spans a range of contentious and non-contentious issues and it is particularly well equipped to support domestic and multinational companies and governments on trade remedies, customs matters, trade policy and free-trade agreements. It is also noted for its niche expertise in advising on free zones throughout Latin America, and it notably played a key role in the establishment of the Latin American Association of Free Zones (AZFA) in 1997. High-profile trade expert, and managing partner, Martín Gustavo Ibarra is widely acknowledged as a market leader; he recently advised the World Free Zone Organization (WFZO) on co-ordinating its regionalisation strategy in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. Olga Lucía Salamanca spearheads the trade remedies and commercial policy team and contributes experience in trade remedies — including anti-dumping cases and countervailing measures — and trade and investment promotion instruments. In November 2023, the firm hired Andrea Caicedo from Goh to serve as director of the international trade practice. The team also draws on international trade manager Felipe Barón (customs, foreign exchange and tax law) and junior associate Carolina Chaparro (customs and criminal law). In August 2023, former firm vice-president, Ricardo López, and former international trade practice head Lina Ocampo left the firm.

Distinguished by its ‘excellent experience and knowledge in trade matters’, regulatory boutique Ibarra Abogados Rimon Law is considered by many as a destination practice for complex international trade work, with its strong legal team supported by a diverse pool of economists, finance specialists, engineers and auditors. The group is widely recognised as a first port of call for trade remedies, where it has an enviable track record in anti-dumping cases, most notably filing the first countervailing duty petition in Colombian history. The group also brings to bear significant experience in the application of bilateral and multilateral agreements, WTO dispute settlement and administrative proceedings concerning customs matters. Highly experienced managing partner, Gabriel Ibarra Pardo, demonstrates ‘impeccable management of the technical, political and legal scenarios to determine the strategies to follow’, according to some. He recently represented Rheem Industria Chilena in the anti-dumping duty sunset review concerning metal drums from Chile. The team also draws on regulatory specialist Ana Lucía Parra, who has a significant customs and trade dimension to her practice; Alejandro Ibarra, whose focus takes in an array of foreign trade, competition, consumer protection and data privacy law; and ‘very disciplined and very skilled’ intermediate associate Dylan Arias, who co-ordinates the international trade and customs area.

Brigard Urrutia’s practice is commended for its ‘high-level knowledge of foreign trade and customs regulations at a national and international level’. Well versed across a range of regulatory and contentious trade matters, the team is primarily noted for its activity in customs disputes and trade remedies. Dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) department head, Jose Francisco Mafla, splits his time between the corporate and M&A and customs and international trade practices, with his experience in the former area arguably informing his ‘business approach’. Among Mafla’s recent matters, he is representing Mexichem Colombia in an anti-dumping and safeguarding duty investigation concerning imports of PVC from China and South Korea. The team is additionally supported by a strong duo of rising stars, with director Camilo Castrillón noted as ‘very rigorous in the evaluation of his positions’, while intermediate associate Gerardo Chadid is ‘always innovative and very practical’.

Key attributes of Posse Herrera Ruiz’s customs and international trade practice include its ‘clear work methodology that facilitates interaction’ and its ‘practical and immediate responses’, according to clients. The team advises on an array of customs law, trade remedies, free-trade agreements (FTAs) and free trade zone-related matters, but it is arguably best known for its strength in international trade taxation, where it can lean on the firm’s dominant tax offering. Recently promoted (March 2024) partner María Paula Sánchez leads the department and specialises in customs, international trade and tax law; she recently advised the Colombian National Planning Department on strategies to dismantle non-tariff barriers stifling competition in Colombia’s motor vehicle and engine-manufacturing sector. Other experienced names include veteran customs law counsel Ramiro Araujo Segovia; Juan Guillermo Ruiz, who specialises in tax law, including customs tax; and Juan Camilo De Bedout, who focuses on tax and customs litigation. Associate Ana María Vega provides dedicated practice support.

Gómez-Pinzón Abogados (GPA)’s international trade group stands out for the strength of its customs offering, where it excels in advising on complex customs disputes, free trade zones and general compliance matters. The growing practice acts for a diverse mix of domestic and multinational companies and added 11 new clients during 2023/24, including Grupo Energía Bogotá, Reckitt Benckiser Colombia and Zona Franca de Rionegro. Up-and-coming partner Nicolás Potdevin Stein heads the department and specialises in customs law. The team also includes of counsel Andrea Mora Ramírez, whose practice encompasses tax, customs, and free trade zones.

Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría houses a combined tax and international trade law practice, with its strengths in the latter sphere particularly concentrated in the customs area. Among its key strong suits, the team excels in transactional support matters, customs tax planning and administrative and judicial proceedings involving international trade and customs issues. The multidisciplinary group draws on firm managing partner Martín Acero, who focuses on tax, international trade and corporate work; tax specialist Carolina Rozo, who has strong experience in customs tax; and Héctor Ramírez, who also specialises in tax, including customs-related matters.

CMS Rodríguez-Azuero’s international trade practice is weighted towards the customs area, where it specialises in regulatory work, customs compliance audits and tax-related matters. Santiago Arbouin fronts both the tax group and the customs law and trade team; he is particularly noted for his experience in customs tax, free trade zones and regulatory compliance. Also noted are Nicole Ríos, who is associate director of the tax practice as well as the customs law and trade area; and associate Natalia Recio, who serves as co-ordinator of the two aligned departments.

Goh’s international trade focus is concentrated on transactional support matters, with the team particularly specialising in customs tax-related issues, where it can leverage its dominant tax offering. The group also has experience in advising on free trade zones, free-trade agreements and customs litigation, among other work. Founding partner Juan Pablo Godoy heads the department and combines strength in tax, international trade, and energy and natural resources matters. The practice was recently boosted by the hire of two customs and trade lawyers from Ernst & Young - Bogotá: of counsel Gustavo Lorenzo and senior associate Nicolás Torres both joined in October 2023. Former associate director, Andrea Caicedo, left the firm in November 2023.